Search Results (7,449)

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) to methanol represents a promising approach for sustainable methanol production. Despite this potential, current technological limitations constrain both economic viability and environmental benefits. This research introduces a solar-driven multigeneration system that integrates CO₂RR to enable the coproduction of electricity and green methanol. A comprehensive energy integration analysis was conducted, alongside a combined techno-economic, energy-efficiency, and environmental (3E) assessment. Multiobjective optimization was conducted using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II). For solution selection, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was integrated with the order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methodology. Results indicate that the integrated system achieves a 4.2% reduction in total utility consumption. The optimal levelized cost of methanol (LCOM), net specific carbon emissions (Net_SCE), and energy efficiency (η_EN) are USD 0.526/kg, −1.16 kg CO₂SCE/kg CH₃OH, and 6.52%, respectively. LCOM decreases by 30.6% compared to the initial system, Net_SCE increases by 3.44%, and η_EN improves by 5.84%. Under optimal operating conditions, CH₃OH production capacity and grid power consumption reach 45.27 tons/day and 475.83 MWh/day, respectively. The system does not currently meet the commercial threshold and becomes economically viable only if the electricity price exceeds USD 0.223/kWh. This study provides a valuable reference for future research in system-level integration of CO₂RR and multiobjective solution selection. Full article

To address the increasing demands for faster response and higher control accuracy in the braking systems of electric and intelligent vehicles, a novel brake-by-wire actuation unit and its braking force control methods are proposed. The braking unit employs a permanent-magnet linear motor as the driving actuator and utilizes the lever-based force-amplification mechanism to directly generate the caliper force. Compared with the “rotary motor and motion conversion mechanism” configuration in other electromechanical braking systems, the proposed scheme significantly simplifies the force-transmission path, reduces friction and structural complexity, thereby enhancing the overall dynamic response and control accuracy. Due to the strong nonlinearity, time-varying parameters, and significant thermal effects of the linear motor, the braking force is prone to drift. As a result, achieving accurate force control becomes challenging. This paper proposes a model-free adaptive control method based on compact-form dynamic linearization. This method does not require an accurate mathematical model. It achieves dynamic linearization and direct control of complex nonlinear systems by online estimation of pseudo partial derivatives. Finally, the proposed control method is validated through comparative simulations and experiments against the fuzzy PID controller. The results show that the model-free adaptive control method exhibits significantly faster braking force response, smaller steady-state error, and stronger robustness against external disturbances. It enables faster dynamic response and higher braking force tracking accuracy. The study demonstrates that the proposed brake-by-wire scheme and its control method provide a potentially new approach for next-generation high-performance brake-by-wire systems. Full article

This paper presents an efficient parameter optimization approach to the plastic injection molding process to achieve high productivity. In collaboration with a company specializing in plastic injection-mold-based production, real process data was collected and used in this research. The result is an integrated framework, combining a genetic algorithm (GA) with a CatBoost-based surrogate model for multi-objective optimization of the injection molding machine parameters. The aim of the optimization is to minimize the cycle time and cycle energy while maintaining the product quality. Ten process parameters were optimized, which are machine-specific. An evolutionary optimization using the NSGA-II algorithm is used to generate the recommended parameter set. The proposed GA-surrogate hybrid approach produces the optimal set of parameters that reduced the cycle time by 4.5%, for this specific product, while maintaining product quality. Cycle energy was evaluated on an hourly basis; its variation across candidate solutions was limited, but it was retained as an optimization objective to support energy-based process optimization. A total of 95% of the generated solutions satisfied industrial quality constraints, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed optimization framework. While classical Design of Experiment (DOE) approaches require sequential physical trials, the proposed GA-surrogate framework achieves convergence in computational iterations, which significantly reduces machine usage for optimization. This approach demonstrates a practical way to automate data-driven process optimization in an injection mold machine for an industrial application, and it can be extended to other manufacturing systems that require adaptive control parameters. Full article

Critical closing pressure (CCP) and the vascular waterfall have long been used to explain perfusion failure in shock, yet their physiological meaning has been inconsistently interpreted. CCP is frequently treated as a continuous downstream pressure and inserted into formulas such as mean arterial pressure (MAP) − CCP, implying that a collapse threshold behaves like an opposing pressure even when vessels remain open. Drawing on classical vascular mechanics, whole-bed flow studies, microvascular models, and contemporary clinical physiology, we show that this interpretation is incorrect. Tone-dependent arteriolar collapse does not behave as a Starling resistor: CCP is a threshold at which smooth-muscle tension exceeds intraluminal pressure and vessels close, not a pressure governing flow in patent vessels. Perfusion becomes heterogeneous because different vascular beds reach their collapse thresholds at different pressures (via excessive tone, extrinsic compression, or profound hypotension), disconnecting macro-haemodynamics from microcirculatory flow. This explains why systemic variables such as MAP and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) may appear adequate even while tissues are under-perfused, a phenomenon now termed haemodynamic incoherence. Reframing CCP as a binary collapse threshold resolves longstanding contradictions in the literature, clarifies why MAP-centred targets often fail, and unifies the behaviour of shock states within a four-interface model of circulatory coupling. Therapeutically, the aim is not to “restore a waterfall” but to reopen closed vascular territories by lowering excessive tone, relieving external pressure, or raising truly low arterial inflow. This mechanistic reinterpretation provides a more coherent, physiologically grounded approach to personalised perfusion management in critical illness. Full article

This paper develops a mechanism of PF-deletion within a probe–goal system that incorporates C-to-T feature inheritance. I propose that the phase head C enters the derivation not only with an edge feature (EF) and agree (φ-)features but also with a delete-feature, which licenses the deletion of an element at PF (PF-deletion). When C-to-T feature inheritance applies, the target of PF-deletion is determined through φ-probing from T; when it does not, it is determined through EF-probing from C. By linking PF-deletion to phase-internal probing, this approach dispenses with pro, traditionally assumed to exist in the lexicon of null subject languages such as Italian, as a theoretical primitive. Crucially, it offers a unified account of the distribution of null arguments in both Italian (a pro-drop language) and German (a topic-drop language), two language types that have traditionally resisted unified analysis under the principles-and-parameters approach. In addition to the synchronic study of the distribution of null arguments, I further argue that diachronic evidence from old languages such as Old French and Old English lends additional support to the proposal, and conclude that whether C-to-T inheritance applies or not is a crucial factor in explaining crosslinguistic variation in null argument phenomena. Full article

Ajuga iva (L.) Schreb. is traditionally used in North African ethnomedicine for the management of inflammation, pain, and fever. The present study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of the hydroalcoholic extract of its aerial parts and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities using established in vivo models. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of major classes of secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosidic compounds. Quantitative assays revealed appreciable levels of total phenolics (26.3 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (13.5 ± 0.9 mg QE/g extract). In vivo pharmacological evaluation demonstrated significant biological activities, with the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg) producing a marked inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema (44.9%), comparable to acetylsalicylic acid. At the same dose, the extract showed pronounced analgesic activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test, with an inhibition rate of 64.2%, and a significant antipyretic effect in the brewer’s yeast-induced fever model, as evidenced by a reduction in rectal temperature. In parallel, molecular docking was employed as an exploratory, hypothesis-generating in silico approach to investigate potential interactions between selected phenolic constituents identified in A. iva and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Several compounds, including rosmarinic acid, rutin, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside, displayed favorable predicted binding affinities and interactions with key residues of the COX-2 active site. It should be emphasized that molecular docking was used solely as a hypothesis-generating in silico tool and does not constitute direct biochemical evidence of COX-2 inhibition. Overall, these findings indicate that the hydroalcoholic extract of Ajuga iva exhibits notable anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities in vivo. The in silico docking results provide supportive, predictive molecular insights that may help rationalize the observed bioactivities and encourage further biochemical and mechanistic investigations into this traditionally used medicinal plant. Full article

Rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes in densely populated watersheds pose serious challenges to the sustainability of ecosystem services (ES), yet their spatially explicit economic consequences remain insufficiently understood. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal dynamics of LULC and ecosystem service values (ESVs) in the Citarum Watershed, Indonesia, one of the country’s most critical and intensively transformed watersheds. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery from 2003, 2013, and 2023 was classified using a Random Forest algorithm, while future LULC conditions for 2043 were projected using a Multi-layer Perceptron–Markov Chain (MLP–MC) model under three scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Protecting Paddy Field (PPF), and Protecting Forest Area (PFA). ESVs were quantified at multiple spatial scales (county, 250 m grids, and 100 m grids) using both the Traditional Benefit Transfer (TBT) method and a Spatial Benefit Transfer (SBT) approach that integrates biophysical indicators with socio-economic variables. The contribution of LULC transitions to ESV dynamics was further assessed using the Ecosystem Service Change Intensity (ESCI) index. The results reveal substantial historical forest and shrubland losses, alongside rapid expansion of settlements and dryland agriculture, indicating intensifying anthropogenic pressure on watershed functions. Scenario analysis shows continued degradation under BAU, limited mitigation under PPF, and improved forest retention under PFA; although settlement expansion persists across all scenarios. Total ESV declined from USD 2641.33 million in 2003 to USD 1585.01 million in 2023, representing a cumulative loss of 46.13%. Projections indicate severe ESV losses under BAU and PPF by 2043, while PFA substantially reduces, but does not eliminate economic degradation. ESCI results identify forest and shrubland conversion to settlements and dryland agriculture as the dominant drivers of ESV decline. These findings demonstrate that integrating multi-scenario LULC modeling with spatially explicit ESV assessment provides a more robust basis for ecosystem-based spatial planning and supports sustainable watershed management under increasing development pressure. Full article

Background/Objectives: Heterogeneity in clinical scenarios of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) leads to the possible application of different surgical strategies. Specifically, the possibility of performing combined colorectal and liver resections for synchronous CRLM has been proposed in specific settings but its feasibility, safety and impact in minimally invasive settings remain underexplored. This study examines a multicenter Italian experience, comparing perioperative outcomes of combined (CR) versus non-combined (NCR) minimally invasive liver resections (MILR) for CRLM. Methods: Patients from the prospective multicenter registry of the Italian Group of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery (I Go MILS) who underwent MILR for CRLM between 2016 and 2024 were included. Perioperative outcomes were compared between CR and NCR using Nearest Neighbor Matching. Results: In total, 2286 patients were analyzed, including 1879 NCR and 407 CR. CR was associated with less challenging resections (technical difficulty Kawaguchi grade III: 7.13% vs. 14.53%, p < 0.001), longer operative time (385 vs. 270 min, p < 0.001) and higher major complication rate (11.55% vs. 5.11%, p < 0.001) compared to NCR. The conversion rate was similar between the two groups (9.09% vs. 7.91%, p = 0.479). Technical complexity, operative time, conversion, low-volume hospital, and CR was an independent predictor of major complications after matching. Conclusions: CR is associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications, despite being selected for minor liver resections, confirming the impact of associated colorectal surgery in determining the postoperative risk and hence highlighting the concept that accurate preoperative patient selection is a key step in guiding treatment allocation for CRLM. Therefore, MILR does not yet justify broadening indications for combined resection beyond carefully selected patients. Full article

In this work, we consider the optimization of non-invariant systems with both safety and control constraints. We present a new approach based on Bayesian optimization for the dynamic, safe and controlled optimization of such systems. Although there are other possible use cases, we focus on the application to the electron cyclotron resonance ion source VENUS. From experimental data, we have observed that VENUS behaves to first order as a non-invariant dynamic system with moving areas of instability. Our novel approach aims at providing a tool that can maintain system optimization in a safe way. This is accomplished by making sure the objective function, the beam current in the case of VENUS, does not fall under an operational minimum, while simultaneously requiring the optimization to avoid areas where VENUS is unstable. We compare the result of our approach on synthetic data modeled to mimic the behavior of VENUS with two methods from the literature, a standard Bayesian optimizer and a safe Bayesian optimizer, both adapted to deal with dynamic systems. A cross Student T-test is conducted to show the significance of the improvement given by the new method we introduce here, regarding the two preexisting methods we compared to. The results of the tests conducted on synthetic data show that the proposed method succeeds at maintaining the system optimized and obeys the predefined constraints better than the literature methods explored. Full article

With the rapid development of intelligent computing and artificial intelligence, there is an increasing demand for efficient, interpretable, and interactive frameworks for fine-grained text analysis. In the field of argument mining, existing approaches are often constrained by sentence-level processing, limited exploitation of key linguistic markers, and a lack of human–AI collaborative mechanisms, which restrict both recognition accuracy and computational efficiency. To address these challenges, this paper proposes KFF-Transformer, a computing-oriented human–AI collaborative framework for fine-grained argument element identification based on Toulmin’s model. The framework first employs an automatic key marker mining algorithm to expand a seed set of expert-labeled linguistic cues, significantly enhancing coverage and diversity. It then employs a lightweight deep learning architecture that combines BERT for contextual token encoding with a BiLSTM network enhanced by an attention mechanism to perform word-level classification of the six Toulmin elements. This approach leverages enriched key markers as critical features, enhancing both accuracy and interpretability. It should be noted that while our framework leverages BERT—a Transformer-based encoder—for contextual representation, the core sequence labeling module is based on BiLSTM and does not implement a standard Transformer block. Furthermore, a human-in-the-loop interaction mechanism is embedded to support real-time user correction and adaptive system refinement, improving robustness and practical usability. Experiments conducted on a dataset of 180 English argumentative essays demonstrate that KFF-Transformer identifies key markers in 1145 sentences and achieves an accuracy of 72.2% and an F1-score of 66.7%, outperforming a strong baseline by 3.7% and 2.8%, respectively. Moreover, the framework reduces processing time by 18.9% on CPU and achieves near-real-time performance of approximately 3.3 s on GPU. These results validate that KFF-Transformer effectively integrates linguistically grounded reasoning, efficient deep learning, and interactive design, providing a scalable and trustworthy solution for intelligent argument analysis in real-world educational applications. Full article

Quito, recognized as the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, holds a vast documentary legacy at constant risk of deterioration due to environmental, biological, and aging factors. Preserving these historical documents demands sustainable and non-invasive approaches. This study presents the first documented investigation in Ecuador on the use of ionizing radiation for the conservation of historical paper materials. Fifteen fragments, naturally detached from deteriorated documents housed in two major heritage repositories, the Biblioteca Nacional Eugenio Espejo and the Biblioteca Fray Ignacio de Quezada, were selected for analysis. Samples were irradiated with a Co-60 gamma source at doses of 4, 6, and 8 kGy at the “Francisco Salgado T.” Irradiation Center. To evaluate potential alterations, pre- and post-irradiation analyses were conducted using surface pH measurements, colorimetry (ΔE from CIELAB coordinates), and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The results showed no statistically significant changes in the analyzed parameters, suggesting that gamma irradiation at these doses does not compromise the structural or visual integrity of the paper. This work represents a pioneering step in Ecuador toward integrating scientific methods into cultural heritage preservation, supporting the safe application of ionizing radiation in the conservation of historical documents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emotional eating is a tendency to increase food consumption in order to modify a negative emotional state, but little is known about this phenomenon or about the way to assess it. The aim of the study was to assess the emotional eating in the population of Polish girls using various questionnaires, in order to compare the results obtained while using various tools. Methods: The emotional eating was assessed in a sample of n = 771 girls (age 15–18 years) from a nationwide PLACE-19 Study population, recruited based on a random quota sampling of Polish secondary schools. The results were gathered within the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) and compared for four tools: Emotional Eating Scale for Children and adolescents (EES-C), Emotional Eating Subscale (EE-3) of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Emotional Overeating Questionnaire (EOQ-5), and Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). Results: The analysis of correlation revealed statistically significant association for comparison of all the questionnaires (p < 0.001). For a comparison of EE-3 and EOQ-5, the strongest correlation between the results, and the second highest share of the studied group presenting agreement in emotional eating category was stated, indicating the strongest agreement. For a comparison of EES-C and EOQ-5, as well as EES-C and EEQ, the weakest correlation between the results, and the lowest share of the studied group presenting agreement in emotional eating category was stated, indicating the weakest agreement. Conclusions: It may be suggested that in studies conducted in a group of girls the recommended approach would be to use at least two various questionnaires to assess emotional eating, to enable comparing results, as the knowledge gathered so far does not allow an indication of the most reliable tool. As there is only a fair agreement between compared tools, the arbitrary choice of one tool may significantly influence the formulated conclusions. Moreover, there is a need to conduct more studies assessing emotional eating while using various questionnaire methods, in order to compare the results obtained while using various tools and to indicate the most reliable questionnaires. Full article

Background/Objectives: The role, timing, and duration of antibiotic therapy in hypospadias repair remain controversial, with substantial variability in clinical practice and a lack of evidence-based guidelines. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether preoperative, postoperative, or combined perioperative antibiotic regimens influence postoperative outcomes after hypospadias repair. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to identify studies published between 2000 and 2025 that reported on perioperative antibiotic administration in pediatric patients undergoing hypospadias surgery. Three comparisons were assessed: (i) postoperative antibiotics versus no antibiotics, (ii) preoperative antibiotics versus no antibiotics, and (iii) combined pre- and postoperative antibiotics versus no antibiotics. Outcomes included infectious complications, wound dehiscence, urethrocutaneous fistula, meatal or urethral stenosis, and other postoperative complications. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, with pooled odds ratios reported together with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Ten studies comprising a total of 9493 patients were included. Perioperative antibiotic use was not associated with a significant reduction in infectious complications (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.63–1.44; p = 0.81), urethrocutaneous fistula (OR 1.89, 95% CI 0.87–4.12; p = 0.10), or wound dehiscence (OR 1.52, 95% CI 0.98–2.35; p = 0.06) compared with no antibiotic use. Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis alone did not result in a reduction in infectious complications or wound dehiscence. Combined pre- and postoperative antibiotic therapy did not demonstrate a clear benefit over no antibiotics in terms of infectious complications, although available data were very limited. Conclusions: Routine perioperative antibiotic therapy does not significantly reduce postoperative complications after hypospadias repair. These findings support a selective, risk-based approach to antibiotic use rather than routine administration in hypospadias surgery. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based perioperative antibiotic protocols in pediatric hypospadias surgery. Full article

In dialogue, laughter is a frequent non-verbal signal that can precede, follow, or overlap its antecedent—the laughable. Furthermore, the time alignment between the laughter and the laughable is dependent on who produces the laughable, whether laughter overlaps or not with speech and the communicative act performed. Laughter can interrupt either one’s own or one’s conversational partners’ utterances and, like other well-studied features of dialogue such as repair and split utterances, this interruption does not necessarily occur at phrase boundaries. Similarly, much like repair and other feedback like backchannels, laughters can be categorised as forward-looking or backward-looking. Given these parallels, we propose an analysis of how laughter can be processed and integrated using a Dynamic Syntax (DS) model, which already has well-motivated accounts of repair, split utterances, and feedback. We present a corpus study of laughter in dialogue, as well as a model using Dynamic Syntax and Theory of Types with Records (DS-TTR). Analogously to pronouns and ellipsis, our approach uses underspecification to account for laughter types that are different in processing terms as anaphoric or cataphoric, and demonstrates how laughter is processed incrementally as an utterance unfolds. Our analysis covers ≈87% of the annotated corpus data. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and is mostly caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV can induce HCC by an indirect mechanism of continuous necro-inflammation, contributing to hepatocyte damage and promoting cancer, as well as by viral intrinsic factors. Among them, the major contributors to the development of HBV-related HCC are represented by (i) HBV DNA integration in genes modulating cell proliferation, (ii) HBV pro-oncogenic proteins, such as HBx and HBs, and (iii) the accumulation of viral mutations, enhancing the tumorigenic features of HBV proteins. The currently available antiviral treatments, based on the usage of Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUCs), substantially control HBV replication. However, even a successful NUC treatment does not completely abrogate HCC risk, since it rarely allows achievement of an HBV functional cure, the therapeutic end-point associated with HBsAg loss and more favorable liver outcomes. To date, novel therapeutic strategies based on innovative direct antivirals (nucleic acid polymers, small interfering RNAs, antisense oligonucleotides, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) inhibitors, and capsid assembly modulators) and immune-therapeutics (therapeutic vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and Toll-like receptor agonists) are under evaluation in clinical trials. These approaches are showing promising data in terms of an HBV functional cure, thus representing novel strategies that could be beneficial for reducing the burden of HBV-related HCC. Lastly, further efforts in drug development are necessary to identify new compounds that could achieve a sterilizing HBV cure, implying the complete elimination of cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA, the only end-point that completely eradicates HBV and its related oncogenic risk. Full article